Discover the House and Museum of Metropolitan Antonios Bashir - Douma
You can find some photos at the end of the text.
Exclusive: Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)
By the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary
Douma is preparing to welcome His Beatitude Patriarch John X, the Blessed Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, at the invitation of Metropolitan Silouan Moussi, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Byblos and Batroun and Dependencies. His Beatitude carried his pastoral slogan since his enthronement as Patriarch of the See of Antioch: "With grace we grow, with service we rise, and with love we build in harmony."
Yes, His Beatitude visited Saint John Monastery in Douma in the Easter Season of 2012, during the ministry of the Highly Respected Metropolitan George Khodr.
Today, Douma, with all its Congregations, is preparing to welcome him as the 158th Patriarch of the See of Peter and Paul. He is the Father of Fathers and the Shepherd of Shepherds, who preserved the deposit of faith despite crises.
During his visit, His Beatitude will preside over a Prayer of thanksgiving at the Lady of Dormition Church in Douma. It will be followed by the inauguration of the home and museum of Metropolitan Antonios Bashir, who was born there in 1898 and served as Metropolitan of North America from 1935 until his death in 1966. The museum includes most of his personal belongings: his notebooks from his studying time at the Balamand School, his correspondence with Gibran Khalil Gibran during his translation of Gibran's works, magazines and books he published or translated, records, minutes, photos, certificates, and books from his tenure as Archbishop, as well as portraits by Lebanese artists: Amin El Bacha, Souleima Zod, Samir Abi Rached, Joseph Abi Daher, and foreign artists.
It also includes a bust of him by sculptor Rudy Rahme and other personal belongings, carefully collected by the museum's current curator Ms. Zinali Ayoub. The museum welcomes visitors by appointment.
